Editor's Examinations.

Answers should reach the Editor by the 10th instant. They should be written on only one side of the paper, and should not contain a larger number of words than would fill one-half or three-quarters of a page of this Magazine. Each answer should be signed by the writer, and should state his age from his last birthday. Boys and girls who have completed their twelfth year are eligible to answer the first question; boys and girls under twelve must confine themselves to the second question. The papers written by scholars of the same age will be examined together, and the writers of the two best in each division will receive a prize. All papers should contain a certificate from the teacher of the school that they have been honestly worked.

SUBJECTS FOR THIS MONTH.

For Seniors.-(Boys and girls of the ages of 12, 13, 14, and 15.) Write a short account of the British Constitution.

For Juniors.-(Boys and girls of the ages of 9, 10, and 11.) Draw a Map of France.

The Publisher has much pleasure in giving PRIZES to the writers of the two best answers to each question in every number. The first prize will be a book of the value of FIVE SHILLINGS; the second, a book of the value of THREE SHILLINGS AND SIXPENCE. Two books of each kind will be given-four in all; hut a Scholar, after taking one prize, cannot obtain another until an interval of six months has elapsed. Should his paper during that time obtain the distinction which would otherwise entitle him to a prize, it will be printed in its proper position, but the prize will be awarded to the Scholar who has written the answer next in merit.

PRIZES FOR ESSAYS PRINTED IN THIS NUMBER.

A five shillings book each to ROBERT INNES, Albion Day School, Ashton-under-Lyne; and E. H. ELAND, Grammar School, MarketHarborough.

A three shillings and sixpenny book each to GEORGE Giffin, Trust School, Chipping Ongar; and FRANK BESSART, British School, Ringwood, Hants.

The above-named Prize Essayists are desired to send to the Publisher, Mr. JOHN HEYWOOD, 141 and 143, Deansgate, Manchester, the name of any book or books, of the value referred to, which they would like to receive, and such will be forwarded, post free, within one week afterwards. The Publisher, of course, reserves to himself the right of refusing to forward any work the character of which he may think injurious; but with that single exception Prize Essayists may select any work they please. They will, doubtless, avail themselves of the advice of their parents or teachers in their selection.

A catalogue of three thousand works will be sent by the Publisher on receipt of a penny postage stamp for postage.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS IN DECEMBER NUMBER.

We have had a large number of papers sent in for competition, many of which are excellent. Good writing is, however, in many respects a natural gift, and does not altogether depend upon the pains a scholar takes. This is the second competition there has been in the Young Scholar in writing, but the winner of the chief prize on the first occasion still remains without a rival. The account of the British Constitution, which is prescribed as the subject for the present month, must not be a long one. It should not fill more than a page and a half of foolscap, and should describe briefly the functions of the Queen, the House of Lords, and the House of Commons. The Map of France need not contain the departments; it should have marked upon it the chief mountains, rivers, towns, and the great battlefields of Cressy, Poictiers, and Agincourt.

PRIZES FOR THE TWO BEST WRITERS IN SENIOR DIVISION.

ROBERT INNES (aged 14), Albion Day Schools, Ashton-under-Lyne. (Certified by A. Park, Head Master.)

GEORGE GIFFIN (aged 13), Trust School, Chipping Ongar. (Certified by Thomas Roworth, Master.)

PRIZES FOR THE TWO BEST WRITERS IN JUNIOR DIVISION.

E. H. ELAND (aged 10), Grammar School, Market-Harborough. (Certified by J. Wood, Head Master.)

FRANK BESSART (aged 10), British School, Ringwood, Hants. (Certified by E. J. Haines, Master.)

Thou shalt not steal.-Exodus XX., 15.

NOTHER bad habit against which children should guard themselves is contained in the text. Many children would be shocked were they accused of breaking this command; and yet this law is broken oftener than is imagined. A child may say, "I am sure I am not guilty; I have never taken anything which could be missed." Here lies the danger.

Little acts of pilfering and picking are so many guilty deeds, and unless these are checked in the bud they will lead to more serious ones.

The great thieves once began by taking little things. Probably their mother's sugar-basin or cream-jug tempted them in the first instance; or, if they went to school, perhaps they would carry home pieces of pencil, pens, or books belonging to their schoolfellows.

These are so many acts of dishonesty. They could not have remembered the verse which says

No. 14.-FEBRUARY, 1873.

It is a sin to steal a pin,

Much more to steal a greater thing.

Some people imagine it does not matter if they can do evil and not be seen; forgetting that the eye of God is always upon them. If little boys and girls would, when they are tempted to do what is wrong, only think for a moment upon the Scripture text, "Thou, God, seest me," they would be preserved from many dangers. Our rule should be to do right, and then we need not fear anybody knowing.

A good and kind parent will do his utmost to prevent his children being led astray; but there are some parents who, if they do not actually encourage, do not restrain when they ought.

Knowing that most boys and girls are pleased to hear an anecdote, we will give one which was written by a very wise man named Æsop, who lived nearly six hundred years before our Saviour. This fable will illustrate the evil consequences which follow from the encouragement of vice:

"A schoolboy stole a book from one of his schoolfellows, and brought it home to his mother. Instead of chastising him, she rather encouraged him in the deed. In course of time the boy, now grown into a man, began to steal things of greater value, till at length, being caught in the very act, he was bound and led to execution.

"Perceiving his mother following among the crowd, wailing and beating her breast, he begged the officers to be allowed to speak one word in her ear. When she quickly drew near and applied her ear to her son's mouth, he seized the lobe of it tightly between his teeth and bit it off. Upon this she cried out lustily, and the crowd joined her in upbraiding the unnatural son, as if his former evil ways had not been enough, but that his last must be a deed of impiety against his mother.

"But he replied: 'It is she who is the cause of my ruin; for if, when I stole my schoolfellow's book and brought it to her, she had given me a sound flogging, I should never have so grown in wickedness as to come to this untimely end.””

The Bible contains a very sad account of Judas, one of our Lord's disciples, who was a thief. His love of money caused him to betray our Saviour. His end was a wretched one, and should be a warning to us.

We are very desirous that our young friends should always act on principle. By this we mean that all our actions should be governed by good motives; "not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God."

66 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY."

Punctuality.

MECHANIC promised to do a piece of work for me at a certain time. I called at the time-it was not done-he had forgotten it, but promised to do it by ten o'clock the next day. I called again-it was not done; "could not possibly get it done." I discharged him, and left what he had done towards it on his hands. I engaged another mechanic to do the same piece of work at a certain time. I called at the time— it was not done. I discharged him. These mechanics had violated their word, disappointed me (by which I sustained loss in money and time), and lost a customer. So much for want of punctuality.

I went to another mechanic. He promised to do the work at a certain time. I called for it at the time-it was ready for me. This mechanic enjoyed the consciousness of having kept his word, performed his contract, and done justice to his customers, by which he secured not only my work in future, but my good will, which gained him many more customers. So much for punctuality.

It is but ten years since the occurrence of these things, and during the interval I have marked the progress of these three mechanics. A crisis towards which the affairs of all three had been gradually approaching has just been reached. The two first have lost their business, their little property has been squandered, they have lost their characters, and their large and helpless families are suffering for want of the necessaries of life. The last has retired with a comfortable independence to a large farm-is blessed by his family, admired by his friends, and possesses the good-will of all.